Combined door check and closer.



No.- 658,5l8.

Patented Sept. 25, I900. W. H. TAYLOR.

COMBINED DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1900-) (No Model.) 5 Sheets5haat I.

Ailarnep No. 658,5l8. Patented Sept. 25, I900. W. H. TAYLOR.

COMBINED DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheats8heet 2.

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No. 658,5l8. Patented se t zs; I900. w. H. TAYLOR.

COMBINED DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1900.]

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No. 658,5l8. Patented Sept. 25, I900. w. u. TAYLOR.

COMBINED DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

(Application filed Apr. 25. 1900.) (No Mudeh) 5 Shanta-Sheet 4.

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PATENT OFFICE...

WARREN H. TAYLOR, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR .TO YALE & TOVNEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINED DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,518, datedSeptember 25, 1900.

Application filed April 25, 1900. Serial No. 14,341. (No model.)

To all whom, it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, \VARREN H. TAYLOR, of Stamford in the county ofFairfield and'St-ate of Connecticut, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in a Combined Door Check and Closer; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in a combined door check andcloser; and it consists in the parts and combinations of parts, as willbe more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings,Figure 1 is a View in elevation of myimproved check.

Fig. 2 is a View in longitudinal section of same. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view of the device from below. Fig. 4 is a viewof the spring, showing its retaining-band. Fig. 5 is a view in sectionof the ratchet'and its sleeve. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the spring andits arbor. Figs. 7 and 8 are views in opposite sides of the lever. Figs.9 and 10 are diagrammatic views showing the lever in its two positionson the shaft. Fig. 11 is a view of a modification, and Figs. 12 and 13are views of a modified construction for indicating the position of thespring.

A represents a horizontal cylindrical casing closed at its ends byscrew-caps a and provided on its top with a cylindrical chamber B andwith the wings or lips I), having screwholes therein for the attachmentof the combined check and closer to a door. The chamber B has a femalethreaded opening-centrally in its bottom, in which is screwed the glandC, the latter having an opening at its lower end adapted to closelyembrace the shaft B and provided on its upper face with an openingsufficiently large to receive the packingrings d and d and theinterposed packing (1 the ring cl being screw-threaded externally andboth rings being beveled on their inner faces, as shown, so as tocompress the packing 01 between them.

The crank E is secured on the lower end of the shaft D and is connectedby pitman E with the piston E the latter having one or more valvedopenings therein, through which -ing the door.

the liquid within the chamber may freely pass when the piston E ismoving toward the shaft D and which closes when the piston is movingaway from the shaft, as in the act of clos- The piston normallyor whenthe door to which the check is attached is closed rests against theflange e of the head a, and until this position of the piston is reachedthe liquid in front'of the piston has a more or less restricted avenueof escape through the by-pass valve F. This valve F comprises a casingscrewed into the top of cylinder A- and is provided with an opening inits bottom communicating with cylinder-A and with a lateral opening f,leading to a groove formed in the outer face of the valvecasing, thesaid groove being in a line with the port f in the upper wall ofcylinder A, so that the liquid passing into the valve-casing escapesinto port f and from thence into cylinder A in rear of the piston, thesize of the by-pass being regulated by the screw-valve f sealed andsuitably packed in the valvecasing. With this construction it will beseen that when the piston is moved toward the shaft D the liquid passesfreely to the front of the piston through the valved openings in thehead; but as soon as the piston is forced in the opposite direction thevalve in the piston closes, and the speed of the piston is regulatedsolely by the escape of the liquid through the by-pass. Hence byelevating valve f so as to increase the size of the escape-opening, themore rapidly will the piston move, and by decreasing the size of theescape-opening the speed of the piston will be diminished. The shaft Dpasses upwardly through the bearing C, packing-rings d and d, and thecylinder B and is provided with an angular upper end on which the leverG is secured. This lever G is jointed in the usual manner, and thebracket or knuckle on the free end thereof is secured by screws to thedoor frame or jamb, the check or closer being secured to the door. Byopening the door the shaft D will be rotated and the piston moved towardthe shaft, and by closing the door thepiston will be moved toward theend of its cylinder.

Located within the spring-chamber B and surrounding the shaft D is theratchet-sleeve H. This sleeve is provided at its upper end with aratchet-wheel l, grooved on its under face to receive the circularflange 2' on the cap 1'" of the spi'ingchaniber, the, teeth of saidratchet being engaged by the pivoted pawl of the lever G. This pawl gcan project from either face of the lever. Hence the single pivoted pawloperates to lock the lever and ratchet-wheel together when the lever Gis in either of its two positions, to be hereinafter described.

Located within the spring-chamber B and surrounding the ratchet-sleeve His the cam sleeve or arbor J. This sleeve or arbor is providedinternally with a spline j, which rests within an external groove in thesleeve H, and externally with a shoulderj as shown in Fig. 6, againstwhich the inner end of the spring K bears.

In the ordinary forms of door-checks the change to adopt it from a rightto a left hand door, or vice versa, is a difficult one to accomplish forone not skilled in the art. In my device the parts are so constructedthat if not properly set up no damage can possibly result, for thereason that no tension will be exe ted on the spring. Hence there is noliability through abnormal pressure or tension to distort the spring orrupture the surrounding case. The spring K is coiled around the sleeveJ, and the relative positions of the sleeve and sp'ring are always thesame, and when the spring is removed and turned upsidedown toconvert thecloser and check from, say, a right-hand check and closer to a lefthandcheck and closer the sleeveis also turned. The shape of this sleeve J isthat of a cam with a shoulderj at one side, which engages the bent innerend of the spring. When the ratchet-sleeve H is in position within thespring arbor or sleeve J, it is obvious that if the ratchet I is turnedin one direction it will tend to wind up the spring, and if turned inthe opposite direction it will simply revolve the sleeve J withoutexerting any force on the spring. Hence if the check and closer beassembled for a right-hand door and it should be applied to a left-handdoor the failure of the spring to act would show at once that the partswere not properly adjusted. By now removing the ratchet-sleeve and coverof the spring-chamber the spring, which is held by a surrounding band L,and its arbor J may be lifted out, turned over, and replaced, the

hook-shaped free outer end of the spring engaging a projection on theinner face of the casing. Thus it will be seen that the f hand of thecheck may be changed by the simple expedient of lifting out the springand its arbor or sleeve and turning them bodily over without any changeor adjustment of any other parts and without removing the check andcloser from the door. It is also evident that by no ignorance orcarelessness can the spring be put into the check in such a manner thatany force can ,be exerted to unwind it, and thus exert any undesignedstrain on it. To render the proper adjustments perfectly clear to anyordinary mechanic and to show at a glance whether the spring is properlyadjusted for the door to which it is to be applied, I have provided thespring-casing with an opening therein and the spring-sustaining bandwith the words Right hand and Left hand, so that when the spring isplaced within the spring-casing the letters R or L appear opposite theopening in the casing, thus indicating from the outside the hand forwhich the spring is set. I might make the opening large enough to showeither or both the words Right hand or Left hand, or I may use otherterms for indicating the position of the spring, as my objectis to showplainly from the outside the position of the spring, and when the springis out of check it is a very simple matter for any one to change itsadjustment.

Instead of having a hole in the casing through which a letter or symbolmay be seen for indicating the position and adjustment of the spring Imay employ the external indicator shown in Figs. 12 and 13. In thisconstruction the letters L and R or other characters or symbols forindicating the two positions of the spring are located on the outer faceof the spring-chamber, and the hand for which the spring is set isindicated by the pointer M, secured to the outer end of the stud m.mounted in the casing B.

In door-checks designed for use on right and left hand doors thespring-chamber is provided usually with an in wardly-projecting undercutrib M, one edge of which engages the outer end of the spring whenthelatter is set for right-hand doors, while the opposite edge isengaged by the spring when the latter is reversed for use on left-handdoors. Located within a slot behind this rib and secured on the stud mis the cam M This cam is wider than the base of rib M, and hence oneedge of the cam always projects beyond the base, so as to be engaged bythe end of the spring. In the construction shown the pointer M, pointingtoward the letter R, indicates that the spring is set for a righthanddoor. If the spring should now be reversed, its outer end would engagethe opposite end of cam M and move same and the pointer M, carriedthereby, toward the letter L, thus indicating from the outside that thecheck as assembled is for a left-hand door.

The jointed lever-arm G is, as before explained, clamped in its place onend of shaft D by means of a screw, as shown. The pawl g, pivoted to thearm G, rests in a slot in said arm and, as before explained, is designedto project from either face of the arm, so that the pawl will engagewith the ratchet I integral with the sleeve I-I, thus making aconnection between the lever-arm and spring through the ratchet-sleeveand spring-arbor. The end of the shaft is preferably angular, and theslot in the lever'arm designed to receive this angular end is sopositioned with relation to the arm that a line passing through to thespring.

the longitudinal center of the arm does not coincide either with a linepassing diagonally through the shaft-head or with a line parallel withthe sides of the latter. Hence when the .position of this lever-arm isreversed that is to say, when it is turned top side down the relativepositions between the shaft-head at one end and the piston-head or otherchecking-surface at the other will be changed. The reason for this isthatit is desired to get an adjustment between this shafthead at one endand the piston-head at the other end, so that the satne parts may beadapted to close the door slowly and silently or may at the very pointfor closing the door give it a sudden short and powerful movement. Forexample, where a door-check is used in connection with an electricdooropener, which tends when released to spring the door slightly open,the do r-checkwh' n it closes the door must have at the very end of itsstroke a short and powerful movement to overcome this door-openingspring. The position of the lever-arm on the shaft D Will determine howfar the crank E will revolve, and Figs. 3 to 9 and 10 are for thepurpose of representing the relative positions of the crank and pistonin its two adjustments,

which, as before stated, are dependent on the posit ion of the lever-armGto the crank, while Figs. 9 and 10 show, respectively, the relativepositions of the lever-crank and piston for right-hand quiet closing andright-hand quick closing.

In Fig. 3 the full lines show the adjustment for slowly closing aright-hand door, while the dotted lines show the positions for quicklyclosing a left-h'and door. In the adjustment for slow closing the centerline of the crank stops before reaching its dead-center, as shown infull lines, while for quick closing it will approach nearer thedead-center, as shown in dotted lines. It is evident that the nearer acrank approaches itsdeadcenter the greater circular motion ithas withreference to the imparted motion'of the piston-that is, supposing thecrank to be on its center, it can be moved an appreciable distanceeither way without imparting any appreciable motion to the piston. Nowthe motion of the piston when the door is being closed means the forcingof a certain amount of liquid through the by-pass to the rear of thepiston, and the less the liquid which must be forced through the lessresistance there is Accordingly when the crank is on its center there isno resistance to the act-ion of the spring, and when it is slightlyremoved, say, ten-hundredths away there is very much less resistancethan when it is tWenty-hundredths away. Therefore when the lever-arm Gis put on the shaft D in such a way that the center line of the crankonly approaches to within,say,twenty-hundredths of the center of thepiston there is never a time when an appreciable amount of liquid doesnot have to be forced th sl. the b 'of cap a the by-pass will he cutoff.

pass, so that the door will close always under the control of theliquid;but when the center line of the'crank approaches to, say, withinten-hundredths of said center line the mot-ion of the piston ispractically nothing at the end, so that the force of the spring ispractically unopposed and the door will be closed with a short suddenimpulse.

In order to show ataglance how the leverarm G should be applied forquick or slow closing on either right or left hand checks, I haveprovided the two faces'of the lever with the necessary directions, asshown in Figs. 7 and 8. Thus the side which should be uppermost forright-hand slow closing should also be up for left-hand quick closing,while the side which is uppermost for left-hand slow closingshould be upfor right-hand quick closing.

The real efficiencyof the device consists in being able to adjust themovement of the piston-head or other checking-surface so that the liquidwhich is being moved by the movement of the checking-surface may be moreor less forced through the by-pass or other outlet for the liquid at theend of the stroke.

In the construction shown in Fig. 11 I disclose a construction wherein aquick closing may occur on a shorter stroke of the piston, while a slowclosing may occur on a longer stroke. This is accomplished by making theby-pass or out-let coincide with the termination of the short stroke.

In the construction shown in the sectional view'Fig. 2 the by-pass isnot wholly closed to the liquid in front of the piston until the lattermakes contact with the inwardly-projecting flange of the cap a.

In the construction shown in Fig. 11 the lower end of valve-casing Frests flush with the inner face of the cylinder A. Hence as soon as thepiston' passes the opening in tho valve-casing F and before it reachesthe flange If the adjusttnent of the apparatus and door were such thatthe door would be closed before or just as the piston covers theby-pass, it is evident that the action will be quick closing throughoutthe stroke. If, however, the adjustment of the parts is such that thepistonhead or other checkingsurfaee has to travel farther or past thebypass opening in order to completely close the door, it will be opposedby the liquid in the end of the cylinder, which can only escape byleakage past the piston-head. Hence the final closing motion will beeasy and slow.

The value and efficiency of the adjustment between the lever-arm and thecheck-surface are not dependent on the use of any particular form ofchecking-surface. Hence it may be used either with a horizontal orvertical reciprocating piston or upon what is known as a Wing-eheckthatis, where the checking-su rface revolves and does not reciprocate like apiston.

Another feature of my device which I con sider of importance is thebypass valve. I-Ieretofore the by-passage has been formed in an integralpart of the cylinder. Henceit is not possible to test the valve untilthe entire apparatus has been assembled. With my device theregulating-valve is independent of the main cylinder, and hence can betested before'it is secured in its position.

The shaft D is sustained in its proper position vertically within thecasing by the twopart ring m which latter rests on the packing-nut (Z,with its inner edge within a circumferential groove in the shaft'D.

- Itis evident that manyslight changes might be made in the relativearrangement of parts herein shown and described without departing fromthe spirit and scope of. my inven tion. Hence Iwould have it understoodthat I do not wish to confine myself to the exact construction hereinshown and described; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a combined door-check and closer, the combination with a casing, ashaft, and a piston and a lever-arm connected to said shaft, of a sleevemounted on the shaft and free to turn thereon, a reversible cam-shapedarbor removably secured to the sleeve and provided with a longitudinalshoulder or abutment, a spring the outer end of which is detachablysecured to the casing, while the inner end of the spring is bentinwardly at approximately right angles to its body so as to engage thelongitudinal shoulder or abutment on the cam-shaped arbor and meansconnecting the sleeve and lever-arm, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a combined door check and closer, the combination-with a casing,shaft, and spring, of a checking-surface conrimfirrd t the shaft, areversible lever-arm secured to the shaft and a pivoted pawl adapted toproject on 'either side of the lever-arm, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a combined door check and closer, the combination with a casing,shaft and spring, of a checking-surface connected to the shaft and areversible lever-arm secured to the shaft, the angular opening in thelever-arm being located in a position slightly to one side of the centerof the head of the lever so that when the lever-arm is reversed on theshaft the relative positions of the lever-arm and aiston-head or otherchecking-surface are changed thus changing the length of the throw ofthe crank.

4:. In a combined door check and closer, the combination with acasing,ashaft, and spring,

of a checking-surface connected to the shaft and a reversible lever-armsecured. to the shaft, the connection between the lever-arm and theshaft being so related to the center line through the head of said shaftand said lever that when the lever-arm is reversed on the shaft, therelative positions of the lever-arm and checking-surface are changedthus changing the length of the throw of the crank.

5. In a combined door check and closer, the combination with a casingcontaininga spring and a piston, the spring-chamber having an aperturetherein, of a reversible spring carryinga series of characters one ofwhich shows through the aperture in the casing and indicates from theoutside the hand for which the check is adjusted.

6. In a combined door check and closer the combination with aliquid-chamber, a piston therein, a spring-chamber, a spring therein anda shaft engaging the spring and actuating the piston, of a removableby-pass valvecasing secured to the liquid-chamber, and a screw-valve insaid valve-casing, substantially as set forth.

7. In a door-closer a reversible lever-arm provided with a double-actingautomatic latch so that in whatever position said lever-arm is placedupon the shaft-head, the said latch will automatically connect it withthe springactuating mechanism.

8. In a combined door closer and check, the combination of an adjustablelever-arm, a spring-actuated shaft and a piston or other checkingsurface actuated by said shaft through suitable connecting mechanism,and an outlet or by-pass, the whole being so arranged that a reversal orturning upside down of the lever-arm changes the length of travel of thepiston, substantially as described.

9. A spring adapted for door-closers, provided with indicating words ormarks placed in fixed relation to the other parts of the spring so thatsaid spring indicates on inspection the position in which it must beplaced in the door-closer to cause said closer to operate a right orleft hand door.

10. In a combined door check and closer the combination with a casingcontaining a spring and a checking-surface, of indicating devices forpositively indicating from the outside the hand for which the spring isset.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WARREN H. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

SCHUYLER MERRITT, W. S. ABEL.

IIO

